Dwelling

ABSTRACT

A dwelling comprises a cylindrical outer wall and an inner partition wall coaxial with a central pier in the form of a hollow column. Radially extending from the central pier to the inner partition wall are further walls to define several closed rooms. Between the outer and inner partition walls are partitions to provide separate living areas. A domed roof is supported by the central pier and extends to the outer wall. On the domed roof is a cupola including a wind-driven rotor which drives a generator supported by the central pier.

United States Patent Roessl I 1 DWELLING {76] Inventor: Julius Roessl, 40 Larkin Street, P.O. Box 433 Port Richmond, Staten Island, N.Y. 10302 [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,134

[52] US. Cl. ..52/27, 52/237, 290/55 [51] Int. Cl ..F03d 11/04 [58] Field of Search ..290/44, 55; 52/237, 82, 27, 52/173 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 446,028 2/1891 Smith ..52/80 493,355 3/1893 Erickson ..52/245 942,884 12/1909 Buckwalter ..52/85 1,734,245 11/1929 Distefano ..290/55 2,154,897 4/1939 Grant ..52/80 2,373,207 4/1945 Touhey .....290/44 11/1947 Du Brie ..290/55 X 2,667,589 I 1/1954 Levrero ..290/55 3,255,560 6/1966 McClenahan .,52/82 3,295,265 l/1967 Hida ..52/237 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,017,902 1952 France ..52/237 Primary Examiner.lohn E. Murtagh Att0rneyHane, Baxley & Spiecens [57] ABSTRACT A dwelling comprises a cylindrical outer wall and an inner partition wall coaxial with a central pier in the form of a hollow column. Radially extending from the central pier to the inner partition wall are further walls to define several closed rooms. Between the outer and inner partition walls are partitions to provide separate living areas. A domed roof is supported by the central pier and extends to the outer wall. On the domed roof is a cupola including a wind-driven rotor which drives a generator supported by the central pier.

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DWELLING This invention pertains to dwellings and more particularly to low-cost houses.

BACKGROUND In most underdeveloped countries, there is a great need for housing. However, the presently available housing is often flimsy or primitive in order to keep the cost of the housing as low as possible. There is therefore a great need for housingwhich is well built and comfortable but relatively inexpensive.

THE IN VENTION It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide such housing.

It is another object of the invention to provide a relatively low-cost dwelling which has its own source of electricity and is thus self-contained with respect to its power supply.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention contemplates a dwelling comprising a substantially cylindrical outer wall and a substantially cylindrical inner partition wall both coaxial with a central pier, preferably in the form of a hollow column. A plurality of closed rooms primarily for use as utility areas are defined by radial walls extending between the central pier and the inner partition wall. Living regions are defined in the space between the outer and inner walls by radial partitions. The dwelling is enclosed by a domed roof supported by the central pier and extending to the outer wall.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read with the accompanying drawing which shows by way of illustration and not limitation, dwelling utilizing the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of a dwelling in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1 to show the floor plan of the dwelling;

FIG. 3 is a fractional sectional elevational view of the dwelling to show construction details;

FIG. 4 is a portion of the foundation plan;

FIG. 5 shows structural details for supporting the domed roof of the dwelling;

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of an outer pier column;

FIG. 7 is an elevational side view of the vaned rotor on the cupola;

FIG. 8 shows a variation of the rotor and generator; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a deluxe version of the dwelling of FIG. 1.

The dwelling 10, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes an outer wall 12 of substantially cylindrical cross-section surrounding an inner wall 14, also of substantially cylindrical cross-section. Wall 14 is a partition wall which in turn is coaxial with a central hollow pier 16 supporting a domed roof 18 having a cupola 20.

Radially extending between central pier 16 and inner wall 14 are walls 22 which divide the area within inner wall 14 into a number of closed rooms. Rooms 24 and 26 are shown as bathrooms including the usual plumbing facilities such as a bathtub, a wash basin and a toilet. Room 28 is shown as a kitchen having a sink, a stove and other suitable kitchen appliances and fumiture. Room 30 can be a laundry room. Any other suitable utilization of rooms 24, 26, 28 and 30 is, of course, within the scope of the invention.

Radial partitions 32 extending either from outer wall 12 or inner wall 14 divide the annular space between walls 12 and 14 into different living regions. In particular, there is shown a master bedroom 34, a guest bedroom 36, a living room 38 and a dining room 40. The number and the location of walls 32 may obviously be selected in accordance with the specific living requirements of the user of the house.

Outer wall 12 comprises curtain wall portions 42 pierced by windows 44 and front and rear doors 46 and 48, and outer piers 50 (see FIGS. 1, 3 and 6). A typical outer pier 50 as shown in FIG. 6 in detail, is made of concrete, preferably reinforced with steel rods 52. The inner and outer side walls and the partition walls may be constructed of concrete molded in situ, or of prefabricated slabs. Other suitable building material, such as so-called adobe, wood, brick or fieldstone may, of curse, also be used.

The floor 54 (FIG. 3) is supported by a foundation comprising circular concrete forms 56 and 58 (FIG. 4), and footings for the piers l6 and 50.

The dwelling 10 is covered by a domed roof 18 which is supported via a network 60 of braces 61, trusses 62, and struts 63 connected to central pier 16. The surface of roof 18 is formed from a plurality of sectors 18a (FIG. 1) of sheet metal or the like.

On the top of domed roof l8 and supported by central pier 16 is cupola 20 (FIG. 3). Cupola 20 includes a vaned rotor 64 (shown in greater detail in FIG. 7), comprising a plurality of rectangular laminae 64a extending vertically to catch wind blowing in any direction. As the rotor 64 rotates it drives shaft 66 which is connected via a conventional gearing 68 to a generator 70. The electrical output of the generator may be used to feed batteries (not shown) which supply electricity for the dwelling 10. A variation of the electrical power supply system is shown in FIG. 8, the prime difference being in the geometry of the vaned rotor. In particular, vaned rotor 74 employs arcuate shaped vanes 74a.

As is apparent, the house as shown is completely selfcontained with respect to its power requirements. The generator power can be used for heating, air conditioning, pumping water from a well, cooking, washing, etc. Of course, it can also be connected to an outside inde pendent power supply such as a public main.

The basic dwelling 10 can be varied by modifying its external appearance. Thus, FIG. 9 shows a deluxe dwelling which can include a balcony extension 82 and a roofed patio 84. Other variations are possible and are only limited by the imagination of the architect.

Due to its structure, the dwelling of the invention is highly resistant to seismic shocks and the impact of the forces of wind.

While the invention has been described in detail with respect to certain now preferred examples and embodiments of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, and it is intended therefore, to cover all such changes and modifications in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A dwelling comprising in combination:

a substantially cylindrical outer wall, said substantially cylindrical outer wall including a plurality of spaced outer piers of concrete reinforced with steel rods interconnected by the outer wall and including window and door openings;

a central pier;

a substantially cylindrical partition wall coaxial with said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said central pier;

a plurality of radial walls extending from said central pier to said substantially cylindrical partition wall to define a plurality of closed rooms;

plumbing facilities in at least some of said closed rooms;

a plurality of radial partitions, some of said radial partitions extending from said substantially cylindrical outer wall toward said substantially cylindrical partition wall, other of said radial partitions extending from said substantially cylindrical partition wall toward said substantially cylindrical outer wall to define a plurality of living regions;

a domed roof supported by said central pier and extending to said substantially cylindrical outer wall;

a cupola member on said domed roof and supported by said central pier, said cupola member including a vaned rotor freely rotatable about the axis of said central pier, said vaned rotor having vanes which are substantially planar laminae having an arcuate periphery and which are in different vertical planes extending about the axis of said central pier; and

an electric generator within said central pier, and

means for connecting said vaned rotor to said electric generator so that when said vaned structure is rotated by wind from any direction said electric generator is energized. 

1. A dwelling comprising in combination: a substantially cylindrical outer wall, said substantially cylindrical outer wall including a plurality of spaced outer piers of concrete reinforced with steel rods interconnected by the outer wall and iNcluding window and door openings; a central pier; a substantially cylindrical partition wall coaxial with said substantially cylindrical outer wall and said central pier; a plurality of radial walls extending from said central pier to said substantially cylindrical partition wall to define a plurality of closed rooms; plumbing facilities in at least some of said closed rooms; a plurality of radial partitions, some of said radial partitions extending from said substantially cylindrical outer wall toward said substantially cylindrical partition wall, other of said radial partitions extending from said substantially cylindrical partition wall toward said substantially cylindrical outer wall to define a plurality of living regions; a domed roof supported by said central pier and extending to said substantially cylindrical outer wall; a cupola member on said domed roof and supported by said central pier, said cupola member including a vaned rotor freely rotatable about the axis of said central pier, said vaned rotor having vanes which are substantially planar laminae having an arcuate periphery and which are in different vertical planes extending about the axis of said central pier; and an electric generator within said central pier, and means for connecting said vaned rotor to said electric generator so that when said vaned structure is rotated by wind from any direction said electric generator is energized. 